Electric switch



Sept. 15, 1931. K F. J. WATTS ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Aug. 8, 1930Patented Sept. 15, 1931 WATTS, OF BRONSON, MIGHTGAN, ASSIGNOR '10 HARRYA. DOUGLAS, OF

BROINSON,

MICHIGAN ELECTRIC SWITCH Application filed A gust a, 1980. Serial No.473,824.

My invention relates to electric switches and has for its general objectthesimplification of the structure and operation thereof. The switch ofmy invention is inclusive of two abutments, a member cooperating withsaid abutments in controlling a circuit, said member and said twoabutments being relatively spring pressed into engageabilityand beingrelatively rotatable upon 0 an axis passing between the abutments, saidmember having arecess receiving one of said abutments when the-switch isadjusted to, circuit opening position and then being tiltable upon theother abutment toward the first, and a stop for limiting the extent oftilting movement of said member to maintain the circuit open. A switchcasing desirably encloses the operating parts of such a switch, theaforesaid stop-being preferably the wall of the easin The invention Wlllbe more fully explained in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich Fig. 1. is a longitudinal sectional view of the preferredembodiment 5 of the invention, parts being shown in elevation; Fig. 2'is a front view f part of the structure shown in Fig. 1, on'a smallerscale; Fig. 3 is a sectional View on line 33 'of Fig. 1; Fig.4 is asectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectionalview on line55 of Fig' 1; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a changedposition; ,and' Fig. 7 is a perspective-view of some of the elements inseparated relation. The abutments 1 and 2 are "desirably rigid beingpreferably inner continuatiorisrof metallic sleeves 3and 4 Which passthrough a carrier 5 and are riveted into engagement with such carrier aslllustrated. Circult conductors Gand 7 enter the bores of said sleevesand are secured in place by binding screws 8 and 9. The carrier 5 ispreferably an insulating disc which 'constltutes the closure wall of thecup shaped casing portion 10. The end wall of thiscup shaped casingportion has a central opening therethrough which ismargined by a sleevecontinuation 11 of said end wall, this sleeve continuation terminatingin a flange 12 which clamps the mounting 13 against theend wall of'thecup. The member which cooperates With-the abutments in controlling thecircuitis desirably inclusive of a metallic plate 14 which serves as abridging memher when it engages said abutments. This plate is adapted tobe turned into circuit opening ,and circuit closin position by meansofthe illustrated han le. This handle is formed in two" sections, ametallic section 15 and an insulating section 16. Said insulatingsection extends to the exterior of the casing and is there knurled inorder that it may be turned. This insulating section desirably has asquare recess 17 which receives the correspondingly shaped portion 15. Aspring 18 bears against the end wall of the recess 16 at one end andagainst the shoulder portion within the handle portion 16 at the otherend. The handle part 15 is provided with an oblong portion 19 where itis surrounded by the plate. The opening- 20 in the plate 14 is so shapedas to afford slight lost motion between r suchaplate and the handle inorder that the plate may finisheach of its circuit adjusting movements cwith a snap. The. handle part 15 is provided with a further continuation21 which is desirably cylindrical and is in sliding engagement with thewall 5 Within an opening in (such wall that closely fits the part 21,80The spring 18 serves to press the handle part 16 outwardly to a distancelimited by the flangek22 on the handle part 16that engages the end wallof the cup part 10. Said spring also -presses upon thegplate 14, throughthe intermediation of the handle part 15, to hold 'thisplate againstboth of the abutments 1 and 2 to close the circuit or against one ofthese abutments and the wall 5 to open the circuit, said wall then;serving as a stop. f'

The plate 14 is provided with ridges 23, 24, 25 and 26 toseparate thedifferent places of engagement of the abutments-1 and 2 with the plates.When the circuit is closed one of the abutments is between the ridges 23and 26 and the other'abutment is between the ridges 24 and 25, the twoparts of the plate engaged by the abutments being desirably coplanar.When the circuit is opened planar with the material of the one of theabutments is between theridges 23 and and the other abutment is betweenthe ridges 24 and 26. The material of the plate between the ridges 24and 26is not coplate between the ridges 23 and 25 but is ratherrecessed, so that when the switch is' in circuit o enin position, theabutment between the ri ges 4 and 26 cannot engage the plate. Due tosuch recessing the spring 18 will tilt the plate 14 when'the' switch isopen, but the wall 5 will limit such tilting movement to prevent it fromreaching a degree in i which the abutment between the ridges 24 from theinventlonz and 26 woud be ultimately engaged.

Changes may be made without departing Having thus described myinvention, I

claim:

1 An electric switch including-two abutments; a member cooperating withsaid abutments in controlling a circuit, said member and said twoabutments being relatively spring pressed into engageability and beingrelatively rotatable upon an axis passing between the abutments,said'member having a recess (receiving one of said abutments when theswitch is adjusted to circuit opening position and then being tiltableupon the other abutment toward the first; and a stop for limiting theextent of tilting movement of v said member to maintain the circuitopen.

' 2. An electric switch including two metallic contact abutments; aplate cooperating with said abutments in controlling a circuit, saidplate and said two abutments being relatively spring pressed intoengage- *abllity and being relatively rotatable upon an axis passingbetween the abutments, said .and said two abutments being relativelyspring pressed into engageability and being relatively rotatable upon anaxis passing bev tween the abutments, said member having a recess receving one of'sald abutments when the switch is adjusted to circuitopening position and then being tiltable upon the other including twoabutrecess receiving one of 'said abutments when the switch is adjustedto circuit opening posionand then being tiltable upon the other abutmenttoward the first; a stop for limiting the extent of'tilting movem'ent ofsaid .plate to maintain the circuit open; and formations upon said plateseparating the different places of engagement of the abutments therewithto hold the switch in its alternative adjustments.

5. An electric switch including two abutments; a member cooperating withsaid abutments in controlling a circuit, said member and said twoabutments being relatively spring pressed into engageability and beingrelatively rotatable upon an axis passing be-.-

tween the abutments, said member having a recess receiving one of saidabutments when the switch is adjusted to circuit opening position andthen being tiltable upon the other abutment toward the first; astop forlimiting the extent of tilting movement of'said member to maintain thecircuit open; and ridges upon said member separating the dif-,ferentplaces of engagement of the abutments therewith to hold the switchin its alternative adjustments.

6. An electric switch including two abutments; a plate cooperating withsaid abutments in controlling a circuit, said plate and said twoabutments being relatively spring pressed into engageability and beingrelatively rotatable upon an axis passing between the abutments, saidplate having a recess receiving one of said abutments when the switch isadjusted to circuit opening position and then being tiltable upon theother abutment toward the first; a stop for limiting the extentoftilting movement of said plate to maintain the circuit open; andridges upon said plate separating the different places of engagement ofthe-abutments therewith to hold the switch'in its alternativeadjustments.

7. An electric switch including a casing; two abutments upon a wall ofand within the casing; a switch handle extending between the interiorand exterior of the casing and rotatable upon an axis passing betweensaid abutments; a member within the casing,

said member and said abutments being rela- I tilting movement of saidmember to maintain the circuit open. a

8, An electric switch including a casing; two metallic contact abutmentsupon a wall of and within the casing; a switch handle extending betweenthe interior and exterior of the casing and rotatable upon an axispassing between said abutments; a metallic plate within the casing, saidplate and said abutments being relatively spring pressed intoengageability, said plate having a recess receivmg one of said abutmentswhen. the switch is adjusted to circuit opening position and then beingtiltable upon the other abutment toward the first; and a stop forlimiting the extent of tilting movement of said plate to maintain thecircuit open.

9. An electric switch including a casing; two abutments upon a wall ofand within the casing; a switch handle extending between the interiorand exterior of'the casing and rotatable upon an axis passing betweensaid abutments a member within the casing, said member and saidabutments being relatively spring pressed into engageability, saidmember having a recess receiving one of said abutments when the switchis adjusted to circuit opening position and then being tiltable upon theother abutment toward the first; a stop vfor limiting the extent oftilting movement of said memberto maintain the circuit open; andformations upon said mem ber separating'the different places ofengagement of the abutments therewith to hold a the switch in itsalternative adjustments.

' 10. An electric switch including a casing;

two abutments upon a wall of and within the casing; aswitchhandleextending between the interior and exterior of the easingand rotatable upon an axis passing between'said abutments; a platewithin the .ca'sing, said plate and said abutmentsbeing relativelyspring pressed into engageability, sa d plate having a recess receiving.one of said abutments when the switch is adjusted to circuit openingposition and then being tiltable upon the other abutment toward thefirst; a stop for limiting the extent of tilting movement of said plateto maintain the circult open; and formations upon said plate separatingthe different places of engagement of the abutments therewith to holdthe switch in its alternative adjustments.

' 11. An electric switch including a casing two abutments upon a wall ofand within the casing; a switch-handle extending be-' tween the interiorand exterior of the casing and rotatable upon an axis passing betweensaid abutments; a member within the easmember separating the differentplaces of engagement of the abutments therewith to hold the switch inits alternative adjustments.

12. An electric switch including a casing; two abutments upon a wall ofand within the casing; a switch handle extending between the interiorand exterior of the casing and rotatable upon an axis passing betweensaid abutments; a plate within the casing, said plate and said abutmentsbeing relatively spring pressed into engageability, said plate having arecess receiving one of said abutments when the switch is adjusted tocircuit opening position and then being tiltable upon the other abutmenttoward the first; a stop for limiting the extent of tilting movement ofsaid plate to maintain the circuit open; ,and ridges upon said plateseparating the diflerent places of engagement of the abutments therewithto hold the switch in its alternative adjustments.

13. An electric switch including a' casing; two abutments upon a wall ofand within the casing; a switch handle extending between the interiorand exterior of the casing and rotatable upon an axis passing betweensaid abutments; a member within the casing, said member and saidabutments being relatively spring pressed into engageability, saidmember having a recess receiving one of said abutments when the switchis adjusted to circuit opening position and then being tiltable upon theother abutment t toward the first a stop for limiting the extent oftilting movement of said member to maintain the circuit open; and ridgesupon said member separating the different places of engagement of theabutments there-- with to hold the switch in its alternativeadjustments, there being lost motion relation between the handle and'themember permit ting rapid conclusion of circuit changing movement.

14. An electric switch including a casing; two abutments upon a wall ofand within the casing; a switch handle extending between the interiorand exterior of the easing and rotatable upon an axis passing betweensaid abutments; a plate within the casing, said plate and said abutmentsbeing relatively spring pressed into engageability,

,said plate having a. recess receiving one of first; a stop for limitingthe extentof tilting movement of said plate to maintain the circuitopen; and ridges upon said plate separating the different places ofengagement of the abutments therewith to hold the switch in itsalternative adjustments, there being lost motion relation between thehandle and the plate permitting rapid conclusion of circuit changingmovement.

In witness whereof I. hereunto subscribe my name.

FELIX J. WATTS.

